Tray binder



Sept. 23, 1958 O. E. NABHOLZ TRAY BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28,1958 //v VENTO/Z UPI/IE E. Nam/0.42

- ATTOP/VEJG Sept. 23, 1958 o. E. NABHOLZ TRAY BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 28, 1958 ATTUPNEKS United States Patent TRAY BINDER Orvie E.Nabholz, Shellsburg, Iowa, assignor to Le Febure forporation, CedarRapids, Iowa, -a corporation of owa Application January 28, 1958, SerialNo. 711,628

3 Claims. (Cl. 129-16) This invention relates to a tray binder adaptedto hold file cards and the like, and more particularly one in which thesectional dividers are locked in position and can be moved only bydeliberate action of the operator.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a device in which thefront and rear covers can be moved only when the dividers are also freefor movement.

It is also another object of my invention to provide a device in whichthe covers may be moved toward or away from each other in unison withoutdisturbing the position of the dividers.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a device in whichthe cover moving mechanism is shielded whenever the dividers are lockedin position.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a device in whichthe dividers are firmly held in the tray, even when free for relativemovement back and forth therein.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be moreapparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of theaccompanying drawings and following specifications, wherein is discloseda single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding,however that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scopeof the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view in perspective of the device showing the guardshield in open position and the crank inserted for operative movement ofthe binder covers.

Figure 2 is a partial front view in perspective showing the guard shieldin closed position in relation to the crank mechanism which moves thebinder covers.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the device in perspective showing portions ofthe frame, dividers and binder covers cut away to disclose the lockingmechanism.

Figure 4 is a view in cross section showing the lock-- ing mechanism inopen position, and

Figure 5 is a view in cross section showing the locking mechanism inclosed position.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 3, adevice constructed according to my invention is primarily comprised of abase portion indicated generally at 11, a rail portion 12 mounted on thebase portion and positioned at some distance above the base beingadapted to surround the contents of the tray binder, a front and backcover 13 and 14, and a plurality of dividers such as 15 positioned onthe base between the rail members and between the binder covers.

The base member includes four channels, such as 16 and 17, which are thetwo outside channels, and 18 and 19 which are the inside channels, andprovide the track for the front and rear binder covers 13 and 14.Between these two inside channels are a pair of threaded rods 20 and 21.One of these rods 20 is operatively connected to the front binder cover13 by a saddle member such Patented Sept. 23, 1958 "Ice as 22 which isthreaded to receive the rod. The binder cover 13 is fastened to thissaddle member. It will be noted that this binder cover is hinged at 23.The rear binder cover is similarly mounted on a saddle member andoperatively connected to rod 21. It is conventional practice to turnthese two rods 20 and 21 through a small gear case 24, through themedium of a crank such as 25.

The dividers, such as 15, are provided with two downwardly extendingtabs 26 and 27. The center portions of these tabs are notched as at 28and 29, the tabs extending downwardly into the cavity formed by channels16 and 18 on one side and 17 and 19 on the other side.

Also in these two cavities are longitudinal rods 30 and 31. These rodsare formed with a series of radially positioned cone-like protrudingpins or cars such as 32 and 33 on rod 30, and 34 and 35 on rod 31. Theyextend radially for a greater distance than the cross-sectional radiusof the notches 28 and 29. These two rods are adapted to be rotated inunison in a 60 degree arc to a point where the ears extend downwardly insuch a position that the open ends of the notches 28 and 29 will clearthem. In this manner the dividers may be freely moved manually along thelongitudinal distance of the rods when the ears are extendingdownwardly. However, when the ears in the rods are turned to a morenearly horizontal position, the dividers cannot be moved for more than alimited distance between two adjacent ears.

Bearing in mind the fact that the dividers normally are locked inposition in relation to the longitudinal bars, it becomes at onceapparent that a mechanical conflict exists if the threaded rods 20 and21 are rotated in order to move the binder covers back and forth.Obviously if the two covers are brought together by the movement of thecrank 25, serious strains will be set up between the dividers and theears if the operator attempts to move the covers without unlocking thedividers.

To prevent such action, I have provided a shield member 36 which isadapted to be positioned in front of the crank opening 37. On this coveris a small handle 38. This cover and handle are operatively connected tothe longitudinal bars 30 and 31. The shield is attached to a crossbar 39which in turn is pivotally mounted on the upper ends of twosubstantially vertical bar members 40 and 41. These two bars in turn aremounted at 42 and 43 on the longitudinal locking bars 30 and 31. Thelast mentioned bar members are all positioned within the rail portion12. The shield itself extends outwardly beyond the rail portion anddownwardly over the main base 11. The bar assembly is adapted to bemoved parallel to the front rail and turns the two longitudinal rods 30and 31 through a 60 degree arc. The horizontal movement of the bar 39 islimited by the rails 44 and 45 to limit the movement of the rods.

When the ears of the bars are radially downward and the dividers free tomove longitudinally of the bars, the shield is away from the crankopening. As the shield is moved crosswise of the tray into position infront of the crank opening, the ears turn into a horizontal position andfix the dividers in relation to the bars and the base member of thetray.

It will be apparent, then, that the operator cannot insert the crankunless the shield and associated bars have been moved into an openposition. It is this mechanism which prevents the inadvertent forcing ofthe binder covers against the dividers in a locked position.

The dividers are also notched at the edge, as indicated at 48, in orderto mate with the side rail members such as 44. In this way, even thoughthe dividers are free to move longitudinally of the tray, they stillwill not slip upwardly and out of the tray itself. To secure theirremoval, it is necessary to move the rail members 44 or 45 sideways. Inorder to do this, the rail members themselves are slidably mounted inthe front vertical sup ports 46 and 47 for limited sidewise movement.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the device will befully apparent.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it isapparent that modifications thereof may be made by those skilled in theart. Such modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a tray binder, a base member including longitudinal spaced-apartchannel portions, threaded rods positioned longitudinally of said basemember between the channels thereof, a crank opening in said basecoextensive with said rods, crank means adapted to be operativelyattached to said rod members through said opening, hinged binder coversoperatively connected to said rods adapted to move longitudinallythereof within said base member, a plurality of dividers positionedbetween said binder members, said dividers having tabs thereon extendingdownwardly into said base member between said spaced-apart channelportions, locking means comprising rods having a plurality of earsthereon, said rods being positioned longitudinally of said base memberadjacent said downwardly extending binder tabs, said rods further havingupwardly extending rod portions, a cross bar pivotally attached to saidupwardly extending rod bars, and shield means formed integrally anddownwardly of said cross bar, the angular relationship between saidears, upwardly extending bars and cross bars being such that themovement of said cross bar will cause said shield member to alternatelycover and expose said crank opening as said ears engage or disengagesaid tabs.

2. In a tray binder, a base member, a plurality of threaded rods in saidbase member, binder covers mounted on said base and operativelyconnected to said rods for longitudinal movement in relation to saidbase, an opening in said base member in communication with said rods,dividers positioned between said binder covers, locking means pivotallymounted longitudinally of said base member having ear means radiallypositioned thereof to fixedly engage said dividers, and shield meansrotatable on said locking means and positioned to selectively cover saidopening when said dividers are fixedly engaged by said ear means.

3. In a device of the type described, a rectangular base member,threaded rod means positioned longitudinally in said base member, oneend thereof extending outwardly from said base member, crank meansremovably positioned on said rod means, binder covers mounted on saidbase member, a. portion of said covers being threaded to engage saidrod, a plurality of longitudinally slidable dividers positioned betweensaid covers, movement limiting rod means rotatably mountedlongitudinally in said base adjacent said dividers and having earsthereon positioned to be selectively rotated into the path oflongitudinal movement of said dividers, shield means mounted on saidlimiting means outwardly therefrom for transverse movement in relationto said base and positioned to be selectively interposed between saidthreaded rod means and said removable crank coincident with the movementof said ears.

No references cited.

